It’s another January, which means that the cinematic year starts anew with one of the best traditions in cinema: the Sundance Film Festival. It is a bittersweet year, as this is the first after the passing of founder Robert Redford, as well as the final year that the festival is in Park City, Utah before moving on to Boulder, Colorado. Following several years of success with the online platform, the festival’s competition films will remain available online for movie fans everywhere to be part of the experience. Here are some of the movies we are most excited to check out at this year’s festival.
Carousel
Jenny Slate and Chris Pine appear in Carousel by Rachel Lambert, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
A regular occurrence at film festivals is seeing films that display the talent of a unique voice, even if the film doesn’t fully connect. Sundance alum Rachel Lambert (“Sometimes I Think About Dying”) returns to the festival with a new film about a divorced Dad who finds his life getting more complicated when issues with his daughter and the return of an old love coalesce. The film stars Chris Pine, who has been making interesting choices for years, as well as the always entertaining Jenny Slate. With the addition of the “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret” breakout star Abby Ryder Fortson, this film is poised to further polish Lambert’s promising career.
Seized
A still from Seized by Sharon Liese, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Jackson Montemayor.
As an absolute sucker for journalism movies, the synopsis of “Seized” immediately caught this writer’s eye. It is the story of the police raiding a small town newspaper in Marion, Kansas, eventually leading to the immediate death of the paper’s elderly owner. The film promises to explore abuse of power, the constitution, and small town politics, which certainly seems like a timely exploration given the current state of how the media is treated by the current political administration.
Josephine
Gemma Chan, Mason Reeves and Channing Tatum appear in Josephine by Beth de Araújo, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Greta Zozula
Described as a film about an 8-year-old who witnesses a crime acting out while her parents struggle with being able to console her, Beth de Araújo’s “Josephine” looks to explore one of the most fascinating complicated cinematic themes: the stunning resilience of children. After his career best turn in “Roofman,” veteran actor Channing Tatum gets another chance to show dramatic chops as the aforementioned helpless parent alongside Gemma Chan. If this film can reach the heights of a similar dramatic exploration of a very serious topic through the eyes of a child, “What Maisie Knew,” this is poised to be one of the most powerful films in this year’s program.
Union County
Will Poulter and Noah Centineo appear in Union County by Adam Meeks, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Stefan Weinberger
After years of popping on screen in supporting roles, actor Will Poulter takes a rare lead role in “Union County.” Set in director Adam Meeks’ hometown, the film chronicles Poulter’s character as he navigates a road to recovery in the opioid epidemic spreading throughout the country. With a supporting cast of non-actors, it seems like “Union County” will be looking towards gritty realism to create a lived in look at one of the biggest modern societal concerns and struggles.
How to Divorce During the War
Marius Repšys, Amelija Adomaitytė and Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė appear in How to Divorce During the War by Andrius Blaževičius, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Featuring one of the most fascinating loglines of the entire festival, “How to Divorce During the War” is a film about a couple on the verge of a divorce just as Russia begins to invade Ukraine. There’s has already been a plethora of absolutely incredible filmmaking that has come in the wake of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, though much of it has been in the form of powerful documentaries. As a narrative film, “How to Divorce During the War” promises to shine a light on some of the less direct impacts of a country in turmoil.
Chasing Summer
Iliza Shlesinger appears in Chasing Summer by Josephine Decker, an official selection of the2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Eric Branco/Summer2001 LLC
A festival preview wouldn’t be complete without some ties to the great state of Texas. “Chasing Summer” follows Jamie (played by stand-up comedian Iliza Shlesinger) as she moves back to her small Texas hometown after losing her job and her boyfriend. Though she was born in the UK, veteran filmmaker Josephine Decker was raised in the Dallas area, as was Shlesinger. With the above festival provided still seeing the lead actress drinking out of a Buc-ee’s cup, we can’t help but hope for a small, moving coming-of-age tale with firm Texas roots.